Technical Abstract:
The Colorado potato beetle is a major pest of potato and eggplant and can be a significant problem in tomato, as well. This insect is particularly difficult to control because of its resistance to many conventional insecticides and the ability of this insect to overwinter (diapause). Induction of diapause by cold temperatures, short day length or poor food quality initiates a number of behavioral, physiological and biochemical changes which enable the Colorado potato beetle to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In this study, changes in amino acids were identified in relation to changes in the metabolic state of these insects during diapause.